NEW YORK, NY - Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi last week announced $75 million would be allocated to provide permanent supportive housing for an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide. Bloomberg, Bernardi and Peake made the announcement with at a newly renovated housing program for homeless veterans in Long Island City, and emphasized the federal and local governments' partnership to house and support America's homeless veteran population.
New York City will receive approximately $9.4 million to be administered by the New York City Housing Authority and the Department of Homeless Services to permanently house more than 1,000 homeless veterans, continuing the work of the NYC/VA taskforce that aims to end veteran homelessness in New York City. "Ending veteran homelessness is an ambitious goal that is more in reach thanks to this historic federal commitment to provide housing for veterans," Bloomberg said. "Our partnership with the VA has already provided homes for hundreds of veterans over the past year and the housing slots being allocated to New York City today will bring new hope to more than 1,000 homeless veterans in our City. It sends a powerful message to the men and women currently fighting for our country overseas, that we do not take their service for granted."
"We are deeply grateful for the service and sacrifice by our nation's veterans and we must make every effort to help them as they struggle to avoid a life on the streets," Bernardi said. "This program is one opportunity to say, 'Thank You' and to make certain that we serve them as they once served us."
"Today, VA, HUD and New York City are strengthening our long-standing partnership on homelessness to achieve a simple vision- that no one who has served and fought for their country should have to live on the streets," Peake said. "We hope to build upon this effort soon with another step: providing more case managers to support a marked increase in permanent housing units."
The HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) will provide local public housing agencies with approximately 10,000 rental assistance vouchers specifically targeted to assist homeless veterans in their area (see attached chart for a local breakdown of homeless veterans to be assisted).In addition, the VA and HUD will link local public housing agencies with VA Medical Centers to provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans.
HUD will allocate the housing vouchers to local public housing agencies (PHAs) across the country that are specifically targeted to homeless veterans based on a variety of factors, including the number of reported homeless veterans and the proximity of a local VA Medical Center with the capacity to provide case management.New York City and the greater Los Angeles area received the greatest number of vouchers using this criterion.
HUD will provide housing assistance through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program which allows participants to rent privately owned housing. The VA will offer eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S and Puerto Rico.Last year, the VA provided health care to more than 100,000 homeless veterans and other services to over 60,000 veterans in its specialized homeless programs. The Bush Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2009 Budget seeks to double the amount of funding to provide an additional $75 million to support the housing and service needs of an additional 10,000 homeless veterans across America.
Local communities or "Continuums of Care" that receive HUD homeless assistance will work with local VA Medical Cente
Source: Queens Gazette